A patchwork of EU, U.S., and China rules now governs frontier AI models, with the EU AI Office enforcing GPAI duties and the U.S. EO 14409 offering a voluntary framework.

The landscape of artificial general intelligence (AGI) regulation has solidified into a complex mosaic by September 2026, with the European Union, United States, and China each imposing distinct obligations on developers of frontier AI models.

European Union: Mandatory GPAI Duties

The EU AI Office now enforces the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) duties, requiring providers to submit impact assessments, implement continuous monitoring, and publish transparency reports for any system classified as AGI under the updated AI Act.

Non‑compliance triggers fines up to 6% of global turnover, mirroring the regime applied to high‑risk AI in other sectors. Providers must also appoint a designated “AGI compliance officer” responsible for liaising with national supervisory authorities.

United States: Executive Order 14409 Voluntary Framework

In May 2026, President Liu signed Executive Order 14409, which establishes a voluntary framework rather than mandatory law. The order encourages developers to adopt best‑practice standards, such as third‑party safety audits and public disclosure of training data provenance.

While participation is not compulsory, federal agencies have pledged preferential procurement treatment for firms that adhere to the EO’s guidelines, creating a market‑driven incentive structure.

China: Centralized Licensing and Real‑Time Oversight

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) requires all AGI systems to obtain a national license before deployment. The licensing process includes real‑time oversight through a cloud‑based monitoring platform that flags anomalous outputs and mandates immediate corrective action.

Licenses are reviewed annually, and the MIIT retains the authority to suspend or revoke them if a system is deemed to pose “social stability risks.”

  • EU: Mandatory impact assessments and fines up to 6% of global revenue
  • US: Voluntary best‑practice framework with preferential procurement
  • China: Mandatory licensing with real‑time cloud monitoring

Together, these regimes create a de‑facto global standard that balances regulatory rigor with market flexibility, compelling AGI developers to navigate a multi‑jurisdictional compliance matrix.

Inside DeepTech’s September 2026 update on global AGI regulations